Thursday, May 28

Program
held in honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Baton
Rouge, LA- The Southern University Ag Center in partnership with the Outstanding
Mature Girlz (O.M.G.) Organization will host the 2015 Outstanding Mature Girlz Youth
Conference for young ladies ages 10 and up.

The
conference, which is being held in honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day, will take place on Saturday, May 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
the campus of Southern University in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Student
Union. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.

The
O.M.G Youth Conference will feature fun, yet informative breakout sessions,
fascinating guest speakers, live entertainment, and tons of surprises! Free HIV
testing will also be available on site.

International
HIV/AIDS Activist Hydeia Broadbent will be the featured keynote speaker.

Broadbent,
who was born with HIV, was abandoned at the University Medical Center of
Southern Nevada in Las Vegas at birth. By
age five, Broadbent had already begun having symptoms of AIDS. At six-years-old,
Broadbent began her debut as an HIV/AIDS activist and public speaker. By the
time she was 12, she had appeared on national television programs including: The
Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, Good Morning America, and Nickelodeon’s, “A Conversation
with Magic Johnson.”

She
has been featured in prominent publications such as: The New York Times,
People, Teen People, Essence, Ebony and Sister 2 Sister Magazine. Broadbent has
also taken part in many of America’s talk radio programs including: The Michael
Eric Dyson Show, Russ Parr Morning Show, and The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Broadbent
also has served as a speaker and guest panelist at many of America’s most
respected educational institutions including Duke University, Spelman, UCLA,
USC, and Howard University.

Broadbent
was named one of the Most Influential 150 African Americans in 2008 and 2011 by
Ebony Magazine and has received both the American Red Cross Spirit Award and an
Essence Award.

Now
at age 30, she spends her time promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. “...with
all that we know about the virus, it is clear to me that contracting HIV/AIDS today
is a choice and we can’t allow anyone the power to make that choice for us!,”
said Broadbent.

Baton Rouge, La - With pastures so wet and grass a little
short early in the growing season, producers should be watching for signs of
liver fluke infections, said David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program
livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

While rarely fatal in cattle, flukes can cause death in
small ruminants such as goat and sheep. Liver flukes reduce the value of a
carcass thus lowering prices producers receive, he added.

Liver flukes are flatworms that invade the liver of livestock
and cause liver damage. Liver flukes have a two-host life cycle. The eggs only
hatch in water, so in wet years like this one, there are more problems with
flukes, Fernandez said. The larvae infect a snail where they develop and
reproduce asexually. The larvae then exit the snail and encyst on nearby
vegetation. When livestock eat the vegetation, they become infected.

How to reduce
liver fluke infections:

·Keep livestock out of areas where water
accumulates

·Avoid pasturing animals in areas with snails in
the grass

·Mow pastures to remove cysts as encysted fluke
larvae can remain viable for months if they do not dry out.

Treatment options
include: clorsulon, found in Ivomec Plus dewormer, and albendazole (Valbazen)
in the United States. Treat animals before the rainy seasons begin, such as
fall or late spring in Arkansas. This can help reduce the number of eggs laid
on pastures and reduce the chance of infection, said Dr. Fernandez. Be sure to
follow label instructions as Valbazen should not be given to pregnant animals.
Neither Valbazen nor Ivomec Plus is labeled for use in lactating animals. Both
have long withdrawal periods before slaughter.

Liver
fluke is caused by a parasite Fasciloa hepatica. Diagnosis of liver fluke is
often confused with other conditions such as poor nutrition. According to the Cattle Site,
All grazing cattle are susceptible to liver fluke, although wet areas hold
higher risk. Common symptoms include: condemnation of livers; reduced live
weight gains through reduced feed conversion efficiency; reduced milk yield;
reduced fertility; anemia; and diarrhea. Liver fluke is not infectious.

Wednesday, May 27

SU Ag Center Vice Chancellor's Drs. Adell Brown and Gina Eubanks speak to members of the Louisiana Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development on May 26 at the Louisiana State Capitol.

Baton
Rouge, LA- Southern University Ag Center Vice Chancellors Drs. Gina Eubanks and
Adell Brown made a presentation on the accomplishments of the SU Ag Center and
the Center's celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the signing of the Second
Morrill Act of 1890.

The
presentation was made on May 26 during the Louisiana Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development’s meeting at the Louisiana State
Capitol.

After
the meeting, Dr. Brown pinned an 1890lapel pin to the jacket of the committee’s
chairman, Senator Francis C. Thompson.

The
Second Morrill Act of 1890 included the stipulation that African Americans were
to be included in the U.S. Land-Grant University Higher Education System
without discrimination. Making Southern University and 18 other universities part
of what was known as the “Negro Land-Grant Institutions.”

Today
the institutions, more commonly known as 1890 Land-Grand Universities, continue
to lead the collaborative vision of a better world while addressing today’s challenges
and focusing on providing lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Tuesday, May 26

Baton Rouge, La - The Southern University Ag Center’s
Sustainable Urban Agriculture Demonstration Farm has launched its farm tours.
The show-and-tell garden is for everyone. This educational garden gives
information on vegetable varieties, planting instruction, composting
techniques, and other relevant information. The farm tours will be available
throughout the year. To schedule a tour,
please contact Dawn Mellion-Patin or Zanetta Augustine at the SU Ag Center by
calling 225-771-2242.

Baton Rouge, La. – The Southern University Ag Center hosted
the Delta Dairy Goat Show Friday, May 22 - Sunday May 24, 2015 at the
Maurice Edmond Arena. The event was sponsored by Delta Dairy Goat Association and the SU Ag Center, and
consisted of four open junior doe shows, four open senior doe shows, and
four open buck shows sanctioned by the American Dairy Goat Association. Participants
came from Louisiana and surrounding states as far as Arkansas and Mississippi.

One of the avid contestants participating in the weekend
event was Skylar Noblin; a 7th grader from Edwards in Hinds County, Mississippi,
a veteran who showed in the junior and senior doe categories, and a winner of past
grand championships.

Friday, May 22

Baton Rouge, LA- The SU Ag Center, in collaboration with the
LSU AgCenter, will sponsor a youth cooking school entitled, “Creating Healthy
Enjoyable Foods” (C.H.E.F.), for youth ages 9-11 on July 13-17 and ages 12-14
on July 27-31.

The C.H.E.F. cooking school is designed to teach youth basic
cooking principles and nutrition education based on the USDA’s, “MyPlate” food
guidance system and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

Each day, participants will work together to create an
entire meal while learning healthy eating and physical activity principles,
food preparation, kitchen and food safety, common cooking terms, proper food
handling, measuring techniques, critical thinking and team building skills,
planning and time management.

“These camps are designed to teach children the basic
principles of healthy eating,” said De’Shoin York Friendship, Associate Specialist
for Nutrition at the SU Ag Center. “In many households the parents work and
very often when kids get home from school they are home alone. Instead of choosing fast foods or frozen
prepared foods, which may be high in fat or sodium, our cooking camps teach
youth how to safely prepare nutritious snacks and meals, many of which do not
involve the use of a stove,” she added.

Both sessions will be held on the Southern University Baton
Rouge campus in Pinkie E. Thrift Hall from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. To ensure the
safety of all participants, only 12 youth will be accepted per session.
Participants are required to bring a bag lunch and snack each day.

To register for the camps, parents must submit a completed
register form with the $30 registration fee. This fee, which must be paid in the
form of a money order, includes all materials, food and attire needed for the
camp. Money orders should be made payable to the Southern University Ag Center
and mailed to: C.H.E.F., Nutrition Education Program, Southern University Ag
Center, P. O. Box 10010, Baton Rouge, LA 70813.

Tuesday, May 19

Baton Rouge, La. Dawn Mellion-Patin,
Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Agriculture, submitted a 30-minute presentation
titled “Wisteria Alliance,” which was accepted for presentation at the 2015
Extension Risk Management Education National Conference in Minneapolis, MN from
April 29 - 30, 2015. Her presentation was included in the conference
proceedings, available at http://agrisk.umn.edu
after the conference.

The
Extension Risk Management Education National Conference brings together private
and public sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other
agricultural professionals. The biennial conference allows this diverse group
to share ongoing and emerging successful risk management education efforts
which target agricultural producers and their families.

Conference participants learn about what is working to help producers
effectively manage the following types of risks associated with their
agribusinesses: Production, Price or Market, Financial, Legal/Institutional, and
Human Risk.

The Wisteria
Alliance is a relatively new training series offered by the Southern University
Ag Center, with the goal of providing practical, hands-on activities for women
who live on farms, those interested in starting a farm, and /or urban /
community gardeners. All of the trainings are designed for women, and are
primarily conducted by women. During the training sessions, facilitators strive
to create an atmosphere where women are comfortable asking questions, and
learning different tasks normally reserved for men, in a warm nurturing
environment.

Baton Rouge, La – The Southwest Center for Rural
Initiatives, an outreach arm of the Southern University Ag Center, will hold a Couponing
Class on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 1209 Diesi St., Opelousas, LA 70570, from 10
a.m. to 12 p.m. This FREE workshop is entitled, “Couponing 101,” and the first
in a series, which will ultimately teach participants the art of “extreme
couponing.” Participants will learn how to purchase items at low cost or no
cost. All participants are encouraged to bring a friend.

In today’s economy, learning how to save money is a
very valuable and necessary skill. Couponing can save the average family
thousands of dollars annually, and become a catalyst for financial
independence. Families can use the money saved from coupons for trips, an emergency
fund, savings account, home repairs, etc.

Baton Rouge, La. – The Southern University Ag Center will
host the Delta Dairy Goat Show from Saturday May 23, 9:00 AM - Sunday
May 24, 2015 3:00 PM. The Delta Dairy Goat Assoc. and Southern University will hold their
annual dual ring dairy goat show Memorial Day weekend at the Edmund Maurice Arena
in Baker, LA. This is a chance to participate in 4 ADGA/AGS sanctioned
shows in 2 days!! There will be a buck show on Sunday for those who want
to show the "other half of the herd"!!! Visit the Association’s
website for forms and more at http://www.mississippigoatassociation.com/apps/calendar/showEvent?calID=7184082&eventID=249807549

Monday, May 18

Baton Rouge, La. - The SU Ag Center will hold its 2015 Family
and Youth Exposition from June 18-20 in Baton Rouge. This year’s theme is “Dream: Discover the
Rewards of Educating & Advancing Minds.” The public speaking and
illustrated talk competitions will be held on Friday, June 19 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon
in the Smith –Brown Memorial Union on the Southern University campus. The
guidelines and registration forms for the Public Speaking and Illustrated Talk
Competitions are available online. You can either visit the SU Ag Center
website and look at the June Events or click on this
link to access and download the PDF files.

Extension agents are advised that registration forms can be
completed electronically and forwarded via email to dawn_mellion@suagcenter.com
or faxed to 225-771-2861. For further
detail, contact Dr. Dawn Mellion-Patin via email or telephone at 225-771-3532.

Friday, May 15

Baton Rouge, LA- The Southern University and LSU Ag Center’s
will co-host a Louisiana Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Baton Rouge Area Farm Tour from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 17.

The one day tour is being held to serve as an outreach
activity for local sustainable farmers. Participants must provide their own transportation
and drive themselves with a map to the participating farms. The tour will begin
with Luckett Farm, followed by Louisiana Pride, then Yardbird Farms and end
at the McKowen Farm.

After the tour, McKowen Farm and Slow Food Baton Rouge will
sponsor a picnic featuring food from the farms visited during the tour.
Individuals interested in attending the event are encouraged to donate $5 per
person, bring their own libations, side dish items and a blanket.

SARE is a professional development program sponsored by the
Southern University and LSU Ag Centers. The centers work together to implement
programs that enhance the capabilities of Louisiana's Ag professionals through
research and the implementation of science-based practices. The program’s educational
initiatives include workshops, long-distance education training sessions, field
trips, resource manuals and informational bulletins.

For more information about the tour or to volunteer, please
contact Ann Savage at asavage@agcenter.lsu.edu or Anna Claire Ferchaud at aferch3@tigers.lsu.edu.

Baton Rouge, La. –
The Southern University Board of Supervisors has named Dr. Adell Brown Jr., as
Interim Chancellor for the SU Ag Center effective July 1, 2015. Prior to now, Brown served as Vice Chancellor
for Finance and Administration, and currently as Vice Chancellor for
Research and Executive Vice-Chancellor.

Brown has over 42 years of experience in higher
education and agriculture, with 39 of those years at Southern University.

He has held several positions within the SU Ag Center
and the SU Baton Rouge (SUBR) campus. These positions included Adjunct Professor in the
Department of Economics and Finance in the College of Business; Vice Chancellor
for Finance and Administration at the SU Ag Center; Associate Specialist and
Specialist/Extension Economist; Assistant Administrator and Specialist for
Agriculture; Acting Administrator and Assistant County Agent for the
Cooperative Extension Program at SUBR. He also served as Small Farm Coordinator
for the College of Agriculture at SUBR.

Apart from of his employment with the Southern
University System, Brown has been Vice President for Research, Planning, Community
and Economic Development and Tenured Associate Professor in Business for the
College of Business at Mississippi Valley State University; Program Manager for the USDA’s Cooperative
State Research Services Office of Small-Scale Agriculture in Washington D.C.; USDA
Visiting Professor for Farmer Home Administration and Research/Teaching Assistant for the
Department of Agricultural Economics at Louisiana State University.

He is also the Immediate Past President/Chair of the
100 Black Men of Metropolitan Baton Rouge, a non-profit organization where
African-American males assume roles of community leadership, responsibility,
and guidance to enhance the lives of youth.

Brown earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural
Business from Northeast Louisiana University, a Master of Business
Administration with a concentration in Management and Finance from the
University of Southwest Louisiana and a Doctorate in Agricultural Economics with
concentrations in Production Economics, Statistics and Management from
Louisiana State University.

Wednesday, May 13

Baton Rouge, La. - Having fun and learning about
computers can all happen at once, and the Southwest Center for Rural
Initiatives (SCRI) wrapped up its eight-week Spring Computer Training Program
for adults on Wednesday, May 11, 2015. This class was targeted for adults 55+
from the community of St. Landry Parish and collaboration with Experience Works
group on teaching topics that range from a basic Introduction to Computer,
Microsoft Office, to Internet use. This mission of
this program was to provide adults hands-on experience and education on
computer technologies to enhance their lives and enable them to share their
knowledge and wisdom. The computer training program helped participants build
their confidence when using computers in the library, at home, at work, or when
looking for a job. There were 10 students who took advantage of these
free classes and received certificates of completion
for participating in this program. The computer class was well received by
participants, and many are looking forward to the next computer session. This
is one of several programs the SCRI offers to improve the socioeconomic
well-being of citizens in rural communities within the a ten-parish region of
Southwest Louisiana, and we want to continue to provide community programs that
will address their scientific, technological, social, economic, and cultural
needs.

The

Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives, located in Opelousas is an outreach arm of the Southern University Ag Center.

Baton Rouge, La. - The Southern University
and LSU Ag Centers alongside Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program
(S.A.R.E.) will host Agriculture Day Sustainable Farm Tour at the St. Helena Multi-Purpose Facility at 31676
Hwy in 16 Amite, LA 70422 on June 15, 2015. The event will be held from8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will consist
of commercial and consumer horticulture and beef cattle forages farm tours, a
program for youth and adults. The tour will comprise of visits to six
sustainable farming operations in St. Helena Parish.

Baton Rouge, La - On May 7, 2015, St. Helena Sheriffs
received plants and materials from Bracy’s Nursery and Hammond Research Station
to landscape their flower garden. Ahmad R. Robertson, Louisiana Master Gardner’s
Frances Davidson, Betty Curry, and Ollie Fultz, St. Helena College & Career
Horticulture Academy Mr. Terry Guy S.H.C.H. Ag Teacher, and St. Helena Parish
Trustees architected a beautiful flower and herb garden. The team planted
annuals, and perennials, herbs, roselle hibiscus and Louisiana Super Plants for
beautification.

The students and trustees learned about planning,
preparing soil, spacing, depth, and mulching.
The St. Helena Sheriff’s Office and staff will enjoy the colorful
landscape created by the SU and LSU Ag Centers.

“Increasing the understanding of agriculture is
essential to today’s students so that they may become citizens who support wise
agricultural policies. The community surrounding your school deserves a
beautiful and safe environment, and beautification projects may help encourage
students and parents alike to participate actively in your school's social and
academic life,” said Robertson.

The landscape beautification project is just another
example of how closely the local government and local schools work together to
create an aesthetically pleasing entry feature the community can be proud of, and
a sense of pride and unity amongst local citizens.
This project was led by Ahmad R. Robertson Agriculture & Natural Resource
Agent St. Helena & Tangipahoa Parish and Sheriff Nathaniel Williams.

For
more information, contact the St. Helena or Tangipahoa Extension Service at 305
E Oak St., Amite, call (985) 748-5462, (225) 222-4136, or email ahmad_robertson@suagcenter.com
or arobertson@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Baton
Rouge, LA – TheSupply Chain Management training which was set for May 14 has been
rescheduled for May 21. The date change is due to a scheduling conflict with area
high school graduations.

The
free training, which is being hosted by the Southern University Ag Center, in
conjunction with the Economic Development Administration University Center
(EDAUC) in the College of Business (COB) at SU’s Baton Rouge campus, will be
held at 6 p.m. in the LSU/SU Ag Center, 114 North Cedar Street in Tallulah.

Any
small business owner who is involved in ordering supplies or merchandise from a
manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer is encouraged to attend the training.

Dr.
Jose Noguera, Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing at the SU
College of Business, will teach participants how managing their supply chain
can reduce costs, increase market share and sales, and build solid customer
relations.

This
is one of several sessions in a series of trainings aimed at boosting the economy
of Madison Parish and surrounding areas.

For
additional information or to pre-register for the training, contact Mrs. Sarah
Sims at 318.574.2465 or Dr. Sung No at 225.771.5954.

Baton Rouge, La. – Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack, recently announced that USDA is making $30 million
available nationally to farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs to develop new
product lines. Funding will be made available through USDA’s Value-Added
Producer Grant (VAPG) program.

“Farmers and ranchers are creative
people who, with a little help, can put that creativity to work and improve the
bottom line for their operations,” Vilsack said. “Value-Added Producer Grants
enable them to develop new product lines to grow their businesses and expand
their contributions to our nation’s economy. This support is especially
important for beginning farmers, military veterans engaging in farming and
smaller farm operations participating in the local and regional food system.”

More information on how to apply is on
page 26528 of the May 8 Federal Register. The
deadline to submit paper applications is July 7. Electronic applications
submitted through grants.gov are due July 2.

VAPG grants can be used to develop new
product lines from raw agricultural products or additional uses for already
developed product lines. Military veterans, socially disadvantaged, and
beginning farmers and ranchers; operators of small- and medium-sized family
farms and ranches; farmer and rancher cooperatives; and applicants that propose
mid-tier value chain projects are given special priority in applying for VAPGs.
Additional priority is given to group applicants who seek funding for projects
that “best contribute” to creating or increasing marketing opportunities for
these type of operators.

Before you apply: Request
aData Universal Number System (DUNS)number if your organization doesn’t
already have one. Register your organization with theSystem for Award Management (SAM)if you aren’t already registered. Remember,
you’ll need your DUNS number to complete your registration. Also, make a note
of your CAGE code and expiration date because you’ll need those for your
application.

Additional
requirements: You need to read theFederal Registernotice for the details on what is
needed for an application. You may also need to fill out required forms.
You can get copies of those forms from yournearest Rural Development Office.

For questions
in Louisiana, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/la
or the State Office at3727 Government Street, Alexandria,
LA 71302 or call 318-473-7920
| 844-325-6950.

Baton Rouge, La – The Southern University Ag
Center welcomed Tim Sheehan on May 12, 2015 for a brief tour and presentation. Mr.
Sheehan, Senior Program Manager of the Borlaug Fellowship Programs was visiting
from the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service,
Office of Capacity Building and Development, Trade and Scientific Exchanges
Division to share information on the Norman E. Borlaug International
Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program. Following his
presentation to a handful of administrators, faculty and staff of the SU Ag Center and SUBR, Sheehan
was led on a tour of the Center's research labs and facility.

The program
is named after Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, Father of the Green Revolution. It helps
developing and middle-income countries strengthen sustainable agricultural
practices by providing scientific training and collaborative research opportunities
for mid-career researchers, policymakers, and university faculty. The program
matches participants with experts in their field at U.S. host institutions.

The program
objectives are to build relationships to advance agricultural trade and
capacity building through scientific exchanges and to help developing nations
strengthen agricultural practices by providing scientific training and
collaborative research.

Monday, May 11

Oscar Udoh, left, teaches first time attendee Ervin Antoine how to navigate the conference

Angela Jackson, left, soaks up information at a session

SU Ag Center group gathers between sessions

Alice Dyson, right, samples California agricultural products

Baton Rouge, LA - The SU Ag Center was well represented at
the National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC)
held May 3-7, 2015 in San Diego, California. The conference was attended by more
than 500 participants targeting administrative staff across the United States,
its territories and the Islanders who work in areas such as evaluation,
finance, grants, human resources, etc. This annual conference brings the
officers of the United States Department of Agriculture/National Institute of
Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) to the same table with Land-Grant institutions (1862,
1890, 1994, HIS, 2008), experiment stations, and territories to discuss
important issues affecting agricultural research and extension.

The theme of the 2015 conference was “Golden Opportunities.”
The United States Congress, after debating for about two years, finally passed
the Farm Bill dubbed The Agriculture Act of 2014. This year’s conference included
some sessions focused on the Farm Bill, the primary agricultural and food
policy tool of the federal government. NERAOC provides an avenue for the
USDA/NIFA experts to inform partners about new policies and procedures and how
they may impact funding of several programs.

USDA/NIFA is stepping up its mandate for actual evaluation
to show outcomes and impacts on funded projects/ activities. Information
obtained is used to defend the USDA/ NIFA budget before Congress and the Office
of Management and Budget. Linda Batiste, Director of Finance at the SU Ag
Center, in collaboration with LSU Ag Center staff presented a session entitled
“Leading from any Chair.”